An ambitious plan by the San Francisco Theological Seminary to consolidate nearly all of its student housing on campus has received the unanimous approval of the San Anselmo Planning Commission.

The commission on Monday night gave the project design review approval and awarded it a use permit and grading permit.

"The seminary's overall goal is to consolidate its properties," said San Anselmo senior planner Phil Boyle. "Right now they have students on campus and off campus. Their plan is to sell all of the off-campus properties and build new residences on campus."

The seminary has struggled with falling enrollment over recent years.

The approved plans call for the removal of four single-family homes and the construction of 26 new residential housing units. The plan also includes the replacement of a 1,568-square-foot storage structure with a new 2,547-square-foot storage structure.

Following a 10-day appeal period, the seminary can apply for its building permit.

Rev. James McDonald, the seminary's president, said it may be three to six months before the seminary applies for building permits.

"That is a decision that the facilities committee of our board of trustees will make," McDonald said.

There has been some criticism of the plan. Boyle said residents on Bolinas Avenue wanted the seminary to contribute more towards flood control and alleviating traffic in the area. And residents who live next to where the new storage shed will be built at 105 Mariposa Ave. also objected to its construction.

In a letter it sent to planning commissioners, The Bolinas Avenue Neighborhood Committee asked, "Why not scale this project back to a size that allows the seminary to be able to contribute to the neighborhood's common good?"

Regarding the storage shed issue, Gerald Strom wrote, "As the neighbors surrounding this project are the ones that are paying the taxes, it is absolutely astounding that we are being asked to accept this unnecessary and undesirable project."

The new 2,547-square-foot maintenance structure will replace an existing 1,568-square-foot shed at the same location.

The plan calls for construction of the following:

 Two buildings housing four units on campus along Seminary Drive. The housing is meant for faculty. Two single-family homes located at 108 Bolinas Ave. and 130 Bolinas Ave. will be demolished to make room.

 Four buildings housing 17 student apartments between Kensington Road and Kensington Court. Homes at 25 Kensington Court and 30 Kensington Road will be removed to make room.

 Two buildings housing five, three-bedroom town homes at the base of Seminary Hill. Existing tennis courts will be removed to make room.